India's Pickleball Surge and Senior World Cup Squads Revealed

Pickleball is expanding rapidly in India, with an estimated 150,000 active players and a 250% year‑on‑year growth rate. Over 1,200 dedicated courts are operating, and 40‑50 new courts are added each month, mainly in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi NCR and Hyderabad, with expansion to tier‑2 cities. Despite this momentum, market penetration remains below 0.05% of the addressable sports population, highlighting a large untapped opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs.

The Indian Pickleball Association has announced its senior squads for the 2026 Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam (30 Aug–6 Sep). The 50+ team is led by former tennis player and two‑time World Cup gold‑medallist Nitten Kirtane, while the 60+ team is headed by Bhushan Akut. Both squads feature a mix of veteran players and will be coached and managed by Manish Rao. President Suryaveer Singh Bhullar expressed confidence that the teams will represent the nation with passion and inspire future players. The overall Indian contingent now totals 33 members across senior, junior and open categories.